s might be the
last dinner for him in the cottage, the last time he would see aunt
Dorcas, and it was only with difficulty he could swallow.

He had said he would give himself wholly up to the pleasure of being
there during the remainder of this day, and not until morning came
should aunt Dorcas hear his story; but before the dinner was eaten, he
began to question whether it might not be wiser to make the explanations
at once, and have done with them, so painful was the suspense.

While the little woman washed the dishes, Joe was permitted to amuse the
princess, but, as soon as aunt Dorcas was at leisure, she took the child
in her arms, and said, preparatory to seating herself in the comfortable
rocking-chair near the west window:

"The princess and I are going to have our nooning now, and you boys had
better go out-of-doors, where you can't disturb us with your noise."

The lump in Joe's throat seemed to increase in size, but he forced it
back bravely, as he asked:

"Isn't there any work we can do, aunt Dorcas? There's no reason why we
should hang 'round here with our hands in our pockets."

"I'll venture to say George isn't eager to be doing anything, for I kept
him busy this morning. It appears to me he isn't a great lover of hard
work, and I am certain you need rest. A walk of six miles--and I dare
say you carried the child a good deal more than half the distance--is as
much as ought to be expected of a boy in one day."

"But I'm not so awful tired, an' I guess Plums can hold out a spell
longer, so if there's anything you'll be wantin' done for the next week
or two, I wish you'd let me know it now."

"I don't think of a thing, Joseph. Go into the orchard, and amuse
yourself in almost any way except by throwing rocks at the birds, until
the princess and I have had our nap."

Joe could do no less than obey, and, once they were out of the house, he
said to Plums:

"Of course I'm a big fool to think any such things, but I can't help
feelin' sorry because the princess had rather be with aunt Dorcas than
me."

"I'd say it was a mighty lucky thing if we were goin' to stay here; but,
in case you stick to what you said about goin' away to-morrow, it will
be kinder tough on both of 'em."

"I wouldn't wonder if aunt Dorcas wanted us to go, after I tell her why
I left the city. She's too good a woman to keep a feller 'round, if she
thinks he's been doin' something wicked."

"But you say you haven't."

"An' it'